I agree. I'm usually more concerned with the "bite" of the hook than the gap. If the eye is even with the point, I feel like it's more likely to not get a good hook in the fish.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Yep

"As small as i can get away with" applies a lot in fishing. And i agree, this is another

@cerebraltackle

26 күн бұрын

Ehh, I agree and disagree...it's all situational.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks

I agree. I was all in on the wide gap and got bites, but not many. Change to a worm hook, and it was night and day.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Nice!

My first time using the Ozark Rig I was loosing fish but I learned to set the hook with s slightly different motion and brought them in the boat.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Sounds good

Great point Matt, love the core tackel product. Out here in So Cal, with our ultra clear lakes, I don't throw wide gap hooks unless im throwing 12" worm or bigger. I get way more bites than most folks as yes wide gap it does not look natural sticking up and don't have a problem setting the hook.We don't have hunp back worms in Cali. Ha ha. Keep the great content coming. Blessings from Cali

@MattStefanFishing

23 күн бұрын

Will do!

I always used an EWG hook for worm fishing and I switched to the Berkley offset worm hook and I absolutely love that hook, super sticky sharp and it isn’t that standard round bend more of an O’Shaughnessy style. I agree with you 100% and I agree with the comment below mine about the bite of the hook being way more important than gap!

@MattStefanFishing

23 күн бұрын

It’s a great hook

I use the EWG hook for a Ring Worm by Lake Fork but I use a regular worm hook for everything else.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

I have been waiting for this video to be done by you! Good job. I have had a few people lately being this up with me in the boat and it can stir up a potential argument 🤣

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

Great stuff.I started out with traditional off set hook,still like them

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Very interesting info. I like the 5 inch pitboss on a 5/0 ewg, might have to try smaller. Giant zman trd 6 inch for 5/0 as well

@MattStefanFishing

23 күн бұрын

Good stuff

I agree using a smaller hook is the better way to go and it does depend on the situation and the quality of the hooks that are used. Thanks Matt for a great video!

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Right on

I agree with you Matt I went from using a 4/0 flipping hook - 3/0 hook had equal success but I’ll always use a smaller hook when it comes to certain techniques, the size of the plastic determines the hook size always! I wish you guys had a 3/0 3/8oz ozark rig

@MattStefanFishing

24 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

100%. We have been testing all kinds of hooks to place in our bait package. When we use the "robust" and "stout" hooks, we notice that we bleed more Bass than when we use smaller hook size. The bigger hooks look nice, but it usually ends up going in deeper and gill hooking the fish. So, now we use smaller hooks, and it gets the mouth more than poking the gills. However, when you look at the hook, it looks like it isn't going to work. lol. We would rather miss a fish with a smaller hook than get the fish, and the chance of killing it goes up dramatically.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Very interesting

Great video.. I use a wide gap 3\0 hook better hook up. Lose more with a worm hook.. I guess it has to do with way I set the hook

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I have discovered the Gamskatsu hybrid finese worm hook when fishing thicker soft plastics will out perform the EWG as far as better hock ups in my opinion.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for the tips😊

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Any time!

🍺Thanks Matt. I use the hook size that fits the bait I am using the best. Diameter is more important than gap in my opinion. So I would say it’s situational. I use light line and small hooks often but I own hundreds if not thousands of hooks from 1/0 to 7/0 for my soft plastic’s. I personally use Gamakatsu and Owner and have stock piled a large inventory because they store fine and will not get cheaper in the future.🤠

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Agreed

To prove a point I used a #4 wide in a stick fishing spring pre spawn deep water next to a spawning flat 30’ produced a quick limit of big smallmouth all hooked in the lip ,not detecting a hook gets more bites true finesse.slow that fall in cold water .

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

The ned rig proves this very well. Look at some of Ned K's rigs and there's not much hook gap at all. Same with JDM terminal tackle. Look at Zappu's offerings and the infinite ways to rig them and the hook gap majority of the time. Always look forward to the Japanese, they are always way ahead of us in the angling world.

@MattStefanFishing

24 күн бұрын

Not always…but most of the time

I've always used a wide gap hook with fat ikas and pit bosses thinking I need the room for the thickness. I'll try to change up and see what happens. Looking at the pit boss you had rigged up on the Ozark rig I noticed that I rig mine upside down from yours. Guess I've been doing it wrong but have been catching them

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

I rig the pit boss on both sides

Absolutely agree. Just makes sense. Thanks Matt.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

Good presentation on the gap of hooks and the ability to get good hook sets. Another factor that greatly increases the effectiveness of good hook sets is the angle of the tip itself. Many ewg have a point that angles inward and can be improved by slightly bending the hook point out of few degrees. Owner haymaker and Gamakatsu g finesse hybrid worm hooks have an outward point from the factory thus allowing you to use a smaller size while still getting a good hook set like Matt stated

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Agreed

Agree with you. I have yet to not get a hookup on the Ozark rig with a big worm, creature or flipping tube. I am not so worried about a wider gap which would be nice. but I really want a tungsten version that is heavier for deeper water and a fast-gliding fall for reaction bites up shallow. And then the reverse a 1/16 oz 3/0 and 4/0 for my 5 inch Caffeine shads and Senko style baits.. I think it would be a great addition

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

We are looking into it

I agree, the EWG hook often acts like a keel and reduces the “rolling” action of a plastic worm, even some of the chubbier worms.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I think what your confident in is what is right. I use EWGs for worm, underspin, ned ect. I think your rod power matching your hook diameter is more important for driving a hook through the plastic than the gap.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Agreed

I agree that the bait dictates the size and shape I use. The cover dictates the wire size.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Agreed

Thank you I believe I will stick with the hooks.And the plastics that I have.I don't need to cause they all work now.If I could only catch a fish

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Great subject Matt! I fish plastics 95% of the time and hook choice is key!

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Yep

I agree 100% with your opinion about standard hook gap size I very rarely throw a worm on anything larger than a 3/0 I pretty much use the ewg for like horny toads or baits off that style. 👍

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

Just did a experiment with soft plastic bait hooks For the first time ever for 2024 tried fishing 5" and 5.25" soft plastic flukes rigged weedless and weightless From Mid/Late May till fall weed die-off the number one bass holding structure on my most fished lakes are submerged weeds interspersed among lily pads. After about mid May anything with a treble hook is a waist of a cast in over 70% of these lakes so wide spread is the weed growth Wanted something that covers water faster than a T-Rigged soft plastic so I gave weightless weedless fluke a try worked as a soft plastic jerk bait You can still use chatterbaits or swim jigs but everyone on my lakes use them so the bass are conditioned a bit to them Evidently not many fisherman use soft plastic flukes rigged weedless on my most fish lakes because since weed up in Mid may till now I have been murdering the bass At first was having three significant issues with my flukes using standard 3/0 OS WH's #1 fluke was balling up on my hook during hook set no doubt whatsoever negatively impacting my hookup ratio #2 I was going through an alarming number of flukes at .60c #3 when my fluke got worn from use weeds were pulling it down off the OS on to the hook shank So I gave both an Owner 3/0 twist Lock lite and a Gamakatsu super line twist lock hooks a try solved problem #2 & #3 immediately but my hookup rate still I felt could be improved from its current 65-70% to a minimum of 80-85% so I tried a 4/0 O/TL/LT hook and a 4/0 Gamak SL/TL hook and my hookup percentage now is 85-90% So in this one instance going to a slightly larger hook FOR ME made a significant difference but at a cost The twist lock hooks are NOT 99.9% weedless like the OS WH's are as the eye of the hook is exposed and does pick up weeds all be it a very miniscule amount Next trip out am going to experiment with using a bobber stop and a plsstic bead to keep weeds off my hook. As far as EWG worm hooks I had absolutely no previous knowledge of them and no opinion of them just saw them back in 2020 or 2021 while shopping at Cabeals and decided to try them absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever my hookup percentage with EWG while fishing 6.5", 7" and 10" worms was lower no it was not significantly lower but definitely lower and bare in mind I had no previous knowledge and nether heard or read any previous opinions about EWG worm hooks to bias my use or expectations of them. But I won't be using standard desiged EWG worn hooks based only on my unbiased 1st hand experience

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

I agree that the smaller the hook, the better. Always use the smallest I can get away with. Just look at a drop shot. Tiny hook and you never lose fish on it

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Agreed

I agree Matt!!

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks

Agreed! As a side note, couldn’t help but notice your beaded bracelet. Shameless plug for my wife’s Etsy store called Beaded Monarch. Her name is Aimee. Can make custom sayings as well! Love your content as usual!

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Very cool!

Funny....., I am wearing that same TW shirt today; that I got when I ordered up my $200.00 of Core Tackle gear!!!!!! Keeping in the family I guess!!

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Awesome!!!

Blaukat is the reason for most of the drama in bass fishing today!

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

He’s not preventing it that’s for sure

@Michdave700

25 күн бұрын

Blaukat is an easy target, but it’s not all about just him, even without him the issue still exists. John Crews and others are also starting to voice concerns.

I've never paid much attention to hook gap and I fish plastics EVERY time I go fishing here in florida and have not seen any problem ... YMMV

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

What about the GAMA G-Finesse Hybrid Worm hook? It seems you could use a smaller hook and not lose gap.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

I haven’t tried it yet

I try and find a balance. I don't like The back bend of the hook shank sticking out unnecessarily far causing me to get hung up more or it getting fouled up with grass every cast.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I only like the wide gap hooks on big, thick plastic baits.

@MattStefanFishing

24 күн бұрын

Thanks

Here’s a news nugget about hook gap, Back in the 80’s I had a friend that used a gold bream hook for his plastic worms, now this wasn’t no farm pond fishing either, I lived in south Florida and lived on a canal, he would catch good fish to with that little gold hook on a 7.5 inch culprit worm.😮

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Never really even thought of it on Texas rigged baits. I assumed based on the title you were going to talk about the gap when rigging swimbaits on a open hook jig head

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

I agree! The bait size will determine the hook size, I agree also too much hook can impede the presentation of the bait (they can see it). You'er deffinently barking up the right tree!

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Thank you for not talking about FFS… Smaller presentation is everything. 😉

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

You bet!

Nope, not going down this rabbit hole 🍺🍺🍺🍺🎣🎣🎣

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Haha

Ehh, for the Hover Rig I would like a Sickle Hook like a Pro V. I do think gap matters...but like with everything else, it's situational.

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

What kind and size hook would you recommend for fishing a 10 inch worm?

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Try the Ozark in the 4/0 and 5/0 sizes

I agree 100%

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Thanks

Sharpness of the hook is critical! Mustad for the win😊

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Agreed

Quite the contrary my friend. I used to fish nothing BUT EWG hooks, now if I can get by with a traditional worm hook I’m throwing the lightest one I can get away with. I would say size of hook is more important than hook gap.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

That’s what i said

Hayabusa Narrow Gap Offset. I think they're in between.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

I’ll check it out

From the U.K. I say you’re dead right. Oversized ewg hooks make the bait very unbalanced. I much prefer a finer wire too for penetrating the mouth of perch/ zander over here

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

I agree that hook gap is overated. What's important to me is the amount of offset horizontal from the line tie to the hook point. That round bend worm hook has more offset than that EWG hook.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Sounds good to me

You probably only need EWG for flukes and tubes.

@MattStefanFishing

22 күн бұрын

thanks for watching

I have some 7in swimbaits that need a wide gap but that's about it. My thoughts is ¼" is OK but that's not what she said.

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Haha

You only need enough to get past the barb .Try it on your finger.😂😂😂

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Yep

I don't like EWGs . Thanks Matt

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Stick with what works for you

👍👍👍👍👍

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

Lol did you pay bots to comment?

@MattStefanFishing

25 күн бұрын

I have to delete them every video…drive me nuts

HOT DAMN THERES A LOT A NOB SLOBBING GOING ON HERE!!! 🙄

@MattStefanFishing

26 күн бұрын

Haha the bits like to comment